God created mankind first and foremost to have a relationship with Himself. Our intense love of God makes all other relationships comparable to hate.
Godly families love one another, of this there can be no doubt. Godly husbands love their wives (Eph. 5:25-33; Col. 3:19) and godly wives love their husbands and children (Titus 2:4). Similarly, siblings are to love one another (1 John 3:10, 17; 4:20-21). Christ frequently uses familial relationships in His parables and in each case affection is expected (ex. Luke 11:11-13; 20:13).
However, Christ specifically states that a Christian is not His disciple if he values family more than he values Christ. Taken in combination with Matthew 10:37, it is obvious that our Lord is not endorsing the hatred that is evidenced in families throughout our world today. Rather, Christ is telling His disciples that nothing can take His central and foremost place in our lives.
Can following Christ cause strife in the home when spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, or child rejects God? Yes. Countless families experience the grief of relational and physical distance because of sin. Only those who love God rightly will relate with others as God intends (John 21:15-17).
Christ’s command is not to stop loving family. Rather, His command is that we not lose sight of our First Love. “More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!”
